From THE TWILIGHT ZONE to AMERICAN HORROR STORY, television horror anthologies have been with us for over a half a century. Most of these shows were introduced either by voice-overs or live hosts such as Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock.
I was weaned on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, NIGHT GALLERY and ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, but have seen some or all of the others with the exception of DR. TERRIBLE'S HOUSE OF THE HORRIBLE, which is the first time I've heard of it (and I might replace it with FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE SERIES).
This assessment from Movieweb.com gives us a look at ten of some of the more noteworthy series (in no particular order) that have lit up the small screen over the years.
10 Classic TV Horror Anthology Series Worth Checking Out
Anthology television series have been around for years and have offered some of the best storytelling on the small screen.
By Brian Hawkins | January 24, 2023 | movieweb.com
Over the years, there have been so many classic television shows. Some of these shows range from sitcom to drama to the mysterious, but all of them have held tight to the linear narrative structure and design, galvanizing storytelling with each prime time moment. But that is not the only way that stories can be told, especially when it comes to television storytelling. The often undervalued, anthology series, is definitely comparable and in many ways holds its own when it comes to great narrative.
Anthology television series have been around for years and have offered some of the best storytelling on the small screen. Sometimes viewed as a lesser vehicle for telling stories, and with a knack for not surviving the constant battle for position when it comes to remaining on air and continuing as a series, the anthology series can be viewed as the "stepbrother" to the "normal" serial episodic format. The difference that exists between the anthology series format and others is that there is not a continuous story line to follow with a specific set of characters, rather, each episode is a self-contained story that follows the design, theme, and/or motif of the series itself. Needless to say, there has been some classic anthology series that are definitely worth checking out.
10. The Outer Limits (1963-1965, 1995-2002) United Artists Television
A deftly sci-fi oriented show that dabbled in horror some in its first season, The Outer Limits is famously known for its voice-over led introduction that claimed to be taking over the television screen being watched. The idea of the show was to explore the deep and dark depths of the monstrous found within the unknown, going beyond the science and facts of what is deemed reality to swim in the nebulous waters of the abyss that stretches the limits of the human experience and mind. The original run of the series contained writing from notables as Harlan Ellison and series creator Leslie Stevens. The show saw a revival in the mid 90s that ran to the early 2000s.
9. Hammer House of Horrors (1980) Hammer Films/Cinema Arts
Hammer House of Horrors is a British anthology television series that ran one year in 1980. Created by Hammer Films, Hammer House of Horrors, in its 13 episode season, touched on different kinds of horrors in each episode: dealing with witches, werewolves, ghosts, devil-worshipers, voodoo, even non-supernatural horrors like cannibalism and serial killers. The anthology series is considered to be one of the scariest when it comes to horror on television.
8. Tales of the Unexpected (1979-1988) Anglia Television
Tales of the Unexpected was an anthology television series hosted by none other than Roald Dahl, the author famously known for his many children books, and later adapted films. However, in the 1980s, he was the host of a horror anthology series that told stories that were sinister yet had wryly comedic nuances. Probably one of the most chilling and tone setting moments of the series is how each show began: Roald Dahl would be sitting next to a fireplace, his warm and cozy demeanor exuding and giving the opposite effect. While many of the shows were written by Dahl in the earlier seasons, this would later change as many of his stories became both darker and scarier over time.
7. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) CBS Television Distribution
The Twilight Zone is the most popular and extremely heralded of all anthology series. From the onset of series' creator and host Rod Sterling opening introduction for each episode, "You're about to enter another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into the wondrous land of the imagination," the audience understood that they were on a ride that would explore the beyond unlike anything seen or heard on television before. This was by design, as Rod Sterling was a huge human rights advocate and created The Twilight Zone to be a vehicle for him to write about what was meaningful to him through storytelling. The exploration of difficult topics like race, immigration, the plight of human rights overall, even McCarthyism were made palpable through the fantasy storytelling design and structure. As an anthology series, The Twilight Zone is seen as being both brave and bold and way ahead of its time.
6. Tales from the Darkside (1983-1988) Laurel Entertainment
Tales from the Darkside is an anthology series that was created by George A. Romero and aired for five years with its pilot episode debuting in1983 and its first season officially beginning in 1984. As an anthology series, Tales from the Darkside followed the self-contained story format for each episode. However, each episode would end in some kind of plot twist. The series explored various genres found in speculative fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Tales from the Darkside was originally supposed to expand on some of the aspects found in Creepshow but with Warner Bros. owning the rights to the title and property, Laurel Entertainment decided to abandon using anything directly related to that movie to build on its own idea that would become Tales from the Darkside.
5. Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible (2001) Babycow Productions
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible is a six episode anthology series by Steve Coogan and Graham Duff. The series spoofs British horror films from Amicus Productions and Hammer Horror Films along with other horror anthology series like Roal Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected. While the show was loved by critics, it was hardly watched by anybody, denoted as having very low viewership which is the primary cause for its cancelation and not getting a chance to have a second season. Despite the love for the show and its crude, unsophisticated humor, the creators' love for the genre was obvious and made the first and only season of the show worth watching.
4. American Horror Story (2011-Present) Television/Disney Platform Distribution
American Horror Story is created by Ryan Murphy and is the longest running anthology series, boasting over ten years. As an anthology series, American Horror Story does self-contained seasons of episodes that exist within one horror universe. Each season deals with some macabre of horror and/or exploration of evil. One of the most interesting aspects about this anthology series is how it is one universe that through the different seasons sees some of the characters return. Ryan Murphy uses this as a storytelling convention that becomes a little bit muddy because a lot of the actors return in different seasons to take on different characters roles yet will also maintain their character's story from another season. Indeed, the structure of the anthology season makes Murphy's choice of narrative design compelling, and with American Horror Story's overwhelming success as an anthology series, it continues to garner renewals, the latest from Syfy in 2020 for three years.
3. Night Gallery (1969-1973) Universal Television
Night Gallery was another Rod Sterling anthology series. Different from The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery was a darker series that really honed in on the macabre and the supernatural, a departure from the former's science fiction base. However, similar to The Twilight Zone, the opening of each episode was led by Rod Sterling himself. In Night Gallery, Sterling could be found in the Night Gallery room himself, introducing a painting that would segue into the night's episode. Also, notably, it was on Night Gallery that Steven Spielberg got his directorial debut in an episode titled, "Eyes," which was written by Rod Sterling.
2. Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996) HBO
Tales from the Crypt as an anthology series was adapted from the original source material and aired on HBO, which was a huge benefit to the show's storytelling, allowing the show to explore darker themes and be more risque, including how gory creators dared to be. Similar to other anthology shows, Tales from the Crypt also had a host that would participate in the opening. The Crypt Keeper was ghoul that was both terrifying and humorous as he introduced each terrifying tale. Tales from the Crypt was such a success as an anthology series that is spawned several more films, a game show, and even a kids' cartoon series. Additionally, even more recently, scribe, screenwriter, and comic book writer Rodney Barnes has teamed with Snoop Dogg to bring a comic book adaptation to life through Barne's Zombie Love Studios.
1. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1965) NBC Universal
The master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock's, instantaneously recognizable black and white silhouette with the equally famous theme music of "Funeral March of a Marionette," led the opening of the Alfred Hitchcock Presents anthology series, provocatively setting the tone for the storytelling that was to come. With Alfred Hitchcock hosting each show, the anthology series leaned heavily into mystery and suspense, as expected, and was not afraid to challenge the status quo of endings by letting the "bad guy" win. However, Hitchcock himself would return at the end of the show to reassure the audience that in the very end, the villain would get what they deserved. Airing for ten years, the anthology series was an astounding hit, truly capturing Hitch's flavor and flare for storytelling. He even directed a handful of episodes himself.
